Sunday, August 31, 2008
O"blog"ation
I had three blog titles and ideas floating around in my head in the shower this morning. As I sighed and wondered when I would fit composing today’s blog into my schedule, I again experienced a feeling I’ve had lately. A feeling of stress and overextension. A feeling that my blog has become an o“blog”ation, rather than recreation.
When did this happen? When did writing become another item on my lengthy “To Do” list instead of a creative escape from it? What used to bring a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment now often seems to be a forced habit requiring much effort and discipline. I feel sad about that.
So today I won’t be writing “Back Off Gustav”, a piece about nature’s ability to turn us into hapless victims with warning, but no recourse, or “A Pain in the Butt”, a lament about my self-diagnosed case of piriformis syndrome, or “Pale in Comparison”, my thoughts on McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential candidate.
Instead, I write about not writing, which, in the long run, may be as insightful as any of the other subjects.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Techno Tools
A couple of days ago, I smiled, amused, as I passed the jumble in the corner on my bedroom floor. I was packing for a short overnight trip to attend a wedding in the southern part of the state. The techno tools that I needed during the trip were in a pile, some of them charging their all-important batteries. Included in my gear were a cell phone, a laptop computer, a video camera, a digital still camera, and my PDA, each of which I thought would be legitimately necessary on the trip.Ironically, the bridal couple is an earthy, “granola”-type pair whose wedding was purposely planned for a Spartan, rustic mountaintop chapel because of its simple, back-to-basics, and back-to-nature atmosphere. They disdained the usual pomp and circumstance, and had even encouraged everyone to wear flip-flops to the ceremony.
Enter Cyppy with her techno treasure. Perhaps I sullied the pristine environment when I pulled out my gadgets, but I think the happy couple will enjoy the video and pictures that technology provided. And in my defense, they had asked for my services.
With the use of an additional technological tool, an inverter, I was able to recharge my devices and use several of them in the car during the ten hours of driving to and from the wedding. I acknowledge the additional irony that these tools that supposedly simplify our lives also make our lives more complicated and complex. Some may call it progress, and some may call it perversion, but I like my gadgets, and plan to keep on charging and using them.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Lil Pup
I had just passed the four-mile mark of my long run when I felt raindrops on my arm. I grimaced and hoped the rain remained a sprinkle because I had eleven more miles to go.
Suddenly, without warning, something furry whacked me on my left leg and I nearly fell. Startled, but still running, I looked down and saw nothing. Creepy, I thought. What kind of animal was that? Whomp! Something was attacking my heels, and this time I was forced to stop running to avoid a tumble.
The culprit was a frisky little puppy who had appeared out of nowhere, and now wanted to play. “Go home!” I ordered. He just cocked his head and looked at me expectantly. “Go!” I shouted, and pointed back in the direction where I thought his home must be.
The rain was coming down more forcefully now. I was just on the edge of town in a field overgrown with weeds, and had no desire to run in a deluge with a dog nipping at my heels. I walked, because I couldn’t run with the dog jumping up on me, about a block to a gas station and convenience store to wait out the storm.
Lil Pup followed me happily right up to the store, and then shook himself, spraying dog water over me. “Thanks,” I muttered in aggravation, cold and wet, and exasperated with the delay in my run. I’m not a big dog fan, but I could see that this little guy, with his pug nose and curly tail, was what many people would gush over and call “adorable.”
“I’m not responsible for you,” I scolded, “so scat!” I pointed out in the rain, and Lil Pup obediently darted out in the downpour a few yards, then ran right back up to me, where I cowered under the overhang of the store roof. OK, he was cute. And he was just a defenseless puppy, but what was I supposed to do about it? I fumed as I waited, and it continued to rain.
Lil Pup tried to befriend all of the customers filling up with gas. Most of them petted him, and spoke friendly, gushy puppy talk to him, but all of them drove away, sometimes with the dog chasing dangerously after their cars. It was still raining cats, and …dogs, and I was afraid Lil Pup was going to get hit by a car in the rain. He wore a collar, but had no identification tags.
Grrrrrr. I grumbled to myself, but I realized I was starting to feel responsible for the animal. After all, he had followed me several blocks from his home, and probably had no idea how to get back. Poor bedraggled little critter.
I went into the Red Eagle convenience store, and asked the clerks to call the Animal Shelter. Lil Pup managed to sneak in the door with an entering customer, and I smiled indulgently as the dog scurried down the snack aisle before the clerk caught him and wrestled him outside. The clerk seemed quite enchanted with the dog, and willing to attend to him until the animal control officer arrived.
The rain let up, and I decided to continue on my run. I left the store, with one last protective glance at Lil Pup. He was contentedly sniffing around the dumpster at the side of the store. With what I only can call unexpected, gushy puppy love, I honestly hoped he would safely make his way home to a happy and more vigilant owner.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
It's the Olympics!
Every four years I feel a sense of urgency, as well as an intense obligation to watch hours and hours of television in a brief two-week period of time.
It’s the Olympics.
At any other time would I watch women’s double sculls or fencing? I mean, I don’t know the difference between a feint and a parry, or a foil and an epee.
But I watch, because it’s the Olympics.
It’s strange, but suddenly a water polo match between Montenegro and Hungary becomes engrossing. My daughter had to clarify for me the location of Monte Negro, because I wasn’t exactly sure where it even was, but I was still cheering for its team.
I watched dressage (pronounced dress-ahhzh) intently, although it just seemed to be a guy in a top hat walking, trotting and cantering about in circles on a horse with its mane tied in knots.
It’s Olympic dressage, and therefore I watch.
Trap Shooting?! Are you joking? No, I watched a man coolly win the gold medal after missing only 5 out of 150 shots. It’s even kind of artsy. When the competitor hits and breaks the clay target, a hot pink smoky cloud appears in the air.
I was glued to the tube for more mainstream events like swimming, beach volleyball, diving, soccer, and gymnastics. And the Olympics just started two days ago.
There’s something special about these competitions, the pinnacle of athletics, that draws me to obsessively watch the television coverage. The athletes’ grit and determination are inspiring. Their focus is remarkable. Their ability, talent, and discipline leave me in respectful awe and admiration.
It’s the Olympics.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Kaleidoscope
In the last ten days I’ve solemnly attended two funerals and celebrated a wedding. I’ve romped on the floor with my 17-month old granddaughter, and I’ve marveled at the ultrasound pictures of grandbaby #2. These seemingly disparate experiences have meshed together like the pieces of glass in a kaleidoscope, and have caused me to reflect on life’s fleeting, treasured moments.
Like the poet, I believe that we have come from a divine existence to which we will return. Our lives here are but a moment, and there is much to learn and to accomplish. As I watched The Little Princess learn and acquire new skills in the few short days she was here for a visit, I was amazed and inspired by her. She is curious and inquisitive, determined and eager. I wonder, and also worry, what the future holds for her.
Will I be there to celebrate on her wedding day? Will she send ultrasound pictures of her unborn child to her father, my son? Will she solemnly mourn at a funeral after an unexpected and tragic death? Will she enjoy the playground equipment at the park with her granddaughter?
Most of us have similar pieces of glass in our lives’ kaleidoscopes which represent hallmark events. Births, weddings, and deaths occur in all our lives, but in different patterns and designs. It is comforting to know that the colorful mosaics of our lives, similar, but yet unique for each of us, do not fall haphazardly into place, but are intricate pieces of a divine plan.
